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SHS 113. Lec:4

Introduction to Nutrition sciences
Fall 2019
Resource person: Madiha Noor
 Learning Outcomes/Objectives

• Students will be able to understand

different functions of Food
• Physiological functions
• Psychological functions
• Social functions
Functions of Food
 Functions of Food
• Physiological
• Psychological
• Social
Physiological Function of the Foods

• Energy

• Maintenance of body structures

• Regulating body processes

• Protective function
 Requirement of Energy
Energy is required for
• Involuntary processes
Activities done without will or conscious control.
E.g beating your heart, digestion etc.
• Voluntary processes
Activities which are under conscious control. E.g
jumping, lifting walking etc
• To convert ingested foods to usable nutrients
• To grow
• To keep warm
• The amount of energy required to power basic
life functions like breathing, heart beating etc
is called Basal metabolic rate, or BMR.
• The energy is supplied by the oxidation of
food consumed
 Cellular Respiration

• A process by which Chemical energy of food

molecules is released and captured as ATP

 Adenosine Tri Phosphate
• Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP for short, is
the energy currency of life. ATP is a high-
energy molecule found in every cell. Its job is
to store and supply the cell with needed
energy.
Maintenance of body structures
Cell Cycling
• Body building

• Replacing worn out cells

• Repairing damaged cells

 Body Building

 Most of the weight of the body is due to water, fat

and protein.

 Nutrients help to form and maintain the shape and

structure of the body.

• At the cellular level, lipids and proteins make
up the membranes that surround cells
• Proteins form ligaments and tendons that hold
bones together and attach muscles to bones
 Why is cell cycle needed?
• Growth- allows organisms to reach maturity
• Replace worn out cells- every cell dies at some
point
• Repair damaged cells- allows damaged areas
of organisms to be fixed
Regulating body processes/
Metabolism
 Metabolism
• Metabolism is a term that is used to describe
all chemical reactions involved in maintaining
the living state of the cells and the organism.
Metabolism can be conveniently divided into
two categories:
• Catabolism - the breakdown of molecules to
obtain energy. E.g cellular respiration and
digestion
• Anabolism - the synthesis of all compounds
needed by the cells. E.g glycogenesis,
lipogenesis, protein synthesis.
 Homeostasis

 Proper regulation of metabolism is called

homeostasis .

 Each nutrient plays a role in helping to

maintain homeostasis.
 Regulation of body processes
• Beating of the heart
• Regulation of body temperature
• Muscle contraction
• Control of water balance
• Clotting of blood
• Removal of waste products from body
 Examples

 Water helps to regulate temperature.

 Vitamin B complex is an integral part of the

enzymes (Coenzyme)- and are responsible for

metabolizing food and thus release energy.

Protective function of Food
• Food also protects us from various infections,
diseases, and injuries.
• For example, Consumption of Vitamin A and
Vitamin C rich food help in building resistance
in the body to fight against invading organism. 
• The main nutrients which perform these
functions include proteins, vitamins, minerals,
water and fiber.
• The major sources of these protective and
regulatory nutrients are green leafy vegetable,
milk, fresh fruits and vegetable, fish etc. 
Psychological Functions of Food
• Food satisfy certain emotional needs. These
include sense of security, love and attention.
• Everyone grows in a particular culture with its
own unique food habits of that culture and
caste. 
• The foods daily eaten by us, give us more
mental satisfaction, even a nutritional
balanced meal may not be satisfying to the
individual,  if food include is unfamiliar or
distasteful to him/her. 
Social Functions of Foods
 Social Functions

Central part of social gathering

To exchange social contacts

 Food also has a special meaning in religious context

 People of a given religious community share a common

eating pattern.

Integral part of festivity, Such as birthdays, weddings, Eid

Sharing food for social acceptance